A Corpse for Yew

by Joyce; Jim Lavene

  Peggy knew Hunter was a struggling young lawyer trying to make her mark on the world. She applauded her efforts and respected the system that brought her there. But she wished Snook would’ve given a little more information. Of course, if he truly didn’t know anything else, there wouldn’t be much to say.

  Was he telling the truth about finding Lois’s purse in a stump? If so, Peggy felt certain Lois didn’t hide it there. Someone didn’t want it to be found right away, but didn’t feel it was valuable enough to take it with them. Or was afraid of being caught with it. She believed Snook would’ve gone in after the ring if he’d dropped it in the mud. That made him a victim of circumstance and returning to his bad habit of robbing graves.

  The issue of the purse being hidden definitely pointed to another person being with Lois when she died. Whether or not that person was responsible for her death was another question. It was possible this other person didn’t realize the yew berries were poisonous, and panicked when Lois died. It was also possible the person with her was a friend.

  Peggy got up from the hard wooden chair she’d occupied and stretched her limbs. If she hurried, she could still talk to Steve that night. She groaned inwardly as Al and Jonas joined her in the observation room to ask her what she’d thought of the interrogation.

  “Did you get anything?” Al asked her.

  “You definitely narrowed my search for yew branches to somewhere around the lake where there are dead tree stumps a pocketbook could be stuffed in.”

  Jonas smiled. “Sounds like my job. I’m always looking for the needle in the haystack.”

  “It does make me feel someone else was there with Lois,” Peggy told them. “Someone had to hide that pocketbook.”

  “I think you’re taking what Snook said at face value,” Jonas said. “He’d say anything at this point to keep us from thinking he killed Mrs. Mullis.”

  “I don’t think he did.” Peggy looked for her purse, then remembered she’d left it in the truck. Her ID card around her neck had been enough to get her in the building.

  “Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Al chuckled. “You always root for the underdog. But sometimes the underdog is guilty.”

  Jonas took her elbow to walk with her to the front door of the police station, leaving Al behind at his desk. “Something’s bothering me about this case,” he confessed. “Have you heard or seen anything that could link Chief Mullis to it?”

  Peggy considered her words carefully before answering. “He dropped her out at the lake hours before the rest of the historical society would be there. He admitted to me that it was a mistake on his part. I’m assuming it wasn’t a malicious mistake.”

  “Before Snook was brought in, there was some talk about the chief being involved. Possibly not homicide, but manslaughter. It’s common knowledge that he inherits the estate from his aunt plus a sizable chunk of change.”

  “Do you think he could hurt his aunt?”

  “I’ve known the man for a long time. I wouldn’t like to think that. But there were also rumors of fights between the chief and his aunt. I don’t know what to think at this point. Everyone else likes Snook for what happened to her. And it may be as simple as her eating the berries and someone pushing her into the mud and hiding her purse. Or someone could’ve tricked her into eating the berries.”

  Peggy frowned. “I’m not sure how you’d trick someone into eating poison berries.”

  “Hell, Peggy, I wouldn’t know a poison berry from a regular berry. Who’s to say Mrs. Mullis was any different? If someone offered me a handful of fresh berries, I’d probably eat them. What if that was what happened to her?”

  “But by no stretch of the imagination could that have been Snook Holt.”

  “No.”

  They’d reached the front door, and Peggy didn’t know what to say. Jonas was thinking along the same lines she was, but there was no real suspect; except perhaps Chief Mullis. He’d seen Lois last. He had motive and opportunity. But this wasn’t a suspect who could be brought in without exacting proof. “I see your point. I’ll keep my ears open. If anything else develops, I’ll let you know.”

  “Great. I hope I’m wrong.” He smiled at her. “Good to see you. You take care out there.”

  Peggy went out to her truck, thinking about what Jonas had said. Hundreds of possibilities whirled through her mind. She was inside the truck with the engine started before she realized she’d totally forgotten to call Steve.

  Before she left the parking lot, she decided to call Steve again. Instead, she found a message from him. He was going to be home by nine. There was plenty of time. She’d go home, change clothes, then go to his house. There was still time to get past this problem before the end of the day. But just barely.

  FRESHLY SHOWERED, WEARING A SLINKY black dress she’d bought six months before but hadn’t had the nerve to wear, Peggy walked to Steve’s house at eight-thirty. She carried a heavy Harris Teeter tote bag in each hand. She’d let Shakespeare out, checked on her plants, and pushed her self-confidence into high gear before she left the house. It didn’t matter anymore if anyone knew she’d spent the night at his house, and that was what she planned to do . . . unless he threw her out.

  The short walk in the brisk autumn air gave her time to think about what she wanted to say and how she wanted to say it. She loved him and hoped he loved her.

  All the energy and enthusiasm she’d built up during her walk past the old houses whooshed out of her when she saw Steve’s Saturn was gone. Deflated like a tired, old balloon, she stood in his driveway for a few minutes, staring at a thriving patch of Spanish bayonet, trying to figure out what to do next.

  She didn’t want to waste all the buildup to confronting him and apologizing. The key to his front door was on her key ring. Peggy decided to let herself in and wait for him.

  The old house seemed deserted when he wasn’t there. She looked around the dark kitchen and great room, but not too closely. If she wanted to learn something about Steve, she was going to ask him from now on. No more snooping. If their relationship was going to work, she would have to trust him and believe in him.

  She turned on the light in the kitchen and unloaded her bags. Inside them was everything she needed to create a romantic dinner for two. It took a lot to pull it all together, including candles, incense, and a couple of bottles of red wine. She put her best lace tablecloth across his plain wood table and started on the food. If there was one thing she was sure about with Steve, it was food. Whatever happened after the dinner would be up to them, but she knew this would be a good way to break the ice that might have formed between them.

  Not long after she mixed the cream into her special Alfredo sauce, she heard the key in the front door, and he walked into the house. It registered in her brain that it was odd for him not to use the kitchen door, but her heart was beating so fast, she was afraid she might have a heart attack when she finally saw him. She turned out the kitchen lights and let the beautiful meal and cozy candle glow speak for themselves.

  He walked into the kitchen and stood in the doorway, looking puzzled. Peggy froze, the welcoming smile on her face fading like yesterday’s flower. “Who are you?” she asked the strange man who was staring at her. “And where is Steve?”

  19

  Euonymus (burning bush)

  Botanical: Euonymus alatus

  The nineteenth-century botanist Robert Fortune brought the species to England and America from its native China. The name comes from the Greek for lucky, despite the fact that it is poisonous. Perhaps it refers to the brilliant foliage in fall, which makes hikers and gardeners feel lucky to see it. The plant is showy with its bright red leaves creating its nickname, burning bush, since it looks to be set afire.

  THE MAN, WHO LOOKED TO be older than Peggy, stared at her for a long moment, then smiled. His hair was white, and he had a dark tan that emphasized his features. “Steve didn’t say anything about entertainment.”

  Peggy wished she could crawl into the ov
en and disappear. Or, more to the point, that she had exercised some degree of sanity before coming here. She was incredibly good at getting into tight places. Much better than she needed to be.

  But there was no way out. She held her head high and stared the man down. “Don’t be rude. Where’s Steve?” Years of teaching at Queens University added strength and command to her voice. She may have felt ridiculous, but she didn’t have to appear that way.

  “He had to make a stop, but he’ll be here soon. I’m Skipper Hall, from the Lazy Z horse farm in Harrisburg. I’m sorry I intruded.”

  “I suppose it couldn’t be helped.” She turned on the kitchen light and blew out the candles. “I guess we’ll just wait for him.”

  He smiled. “You must be Peggy. Steve talks about you all the time. I’m sure he’ll be here as soon as he can.”

  She shrugged, glancing awkwardly around the kitchen. “Good. I’ve already uncorked the wine.”

  Skipper moved to pull out a chair for her. “I hope you’re not planning to leave.”

  Peggy was thinking exactly that, but smiled and took a seat. If he could be gentleman enough to respond so kindly to what could’ve been an embarrassing situation, she could at least stay until Steve got there. It seemed destined to be that kind of day.

  Skipper was good company as they waited. He told her about his dream to own a horse farm when he was a child. “I didn’t think I’d have to come all this way to make it happen. Steve called me after he’d moved here and told me about a great deal on some land. I flew down and closed on it, and haven’t looked back.”

  “That’s wonderful,” she exclaimed. “Have you known Steve a long time?”

  “We were in the Air Force together. We never lost track of each other after that. Mostly it was meeting for drinks at airports when one of us was going through town. It’s great living so close we can see each other more often. He’s a good vet, too. The horses love him.”

  Peggy had a thousand questions she wanted to ask him. She didn’t want to sound overly nosy or like she didn’t know anything about the man she’d been seeing for a year. She casually took a sip of wine after pouring a glass for each of them. “Were you in school together?”

  “High school.” Skipper nodded. “My family moved, and we were separated. But it’s like we’re destined to keep finding each other again.”

  “His childhood sounds as though it was painful.”

  “Not that you’d ever get him to admit it, but it was a hard time for him. He and his mother were very close. I think that’s the only thing that got him through.”

  “I haven’t pushed him for information about that time in his life. I can see it still hurts him to talk about it.”

  “It was a long time ago. I’m sure he’s worked through it. Steve’s like that. You could ask him whatever you want.”

  They heard Steve’s Saturn pull into the drive. The headlights shone briefly in the kitchen window. Peggy took a large sip of wine. “Thanks for your help, Skipper.”

  “No problem, ma’am.”

  “I wish you’d stay and eat with us.”

  “I have a feeling Steve might not like that. But it was nice meeting you.”

  The kitchen door opened, and Steve looked at the two of them with a rapidly developing frown. “Did I miss the memo about dinner?” His eyes took in the uncorked wine bottle and Peggy’s slinky dress. “Or would one of you like to tell me what’s going on?”

  Skipper put one arm around Peggy’s shoulders. “I thought I’d get better acquainted with the little woman. We arranged to meet here while you were out getting horse liniment. She’s a gem, my friend.”

  Steve’s frown deepened. “If I wasn’t so sure that I was the one who suggested you wait here for me, we’d be stepping outside. Peggy doesn’t cook real food often enough for me to share it with anyone.”

  “I made it for you, of course.” She stepped to the side so that Skipper’s arm dropped away from her. Losing the contact made her feel vulnerable, and she wrapped her arms around her midsection. “I asked Skipper to join us, but he didn’t think you’d want him to stay.”

  “And he’s right.” Steve handed his friend a receipt and held the door for him. “Your liniment is in the back of the Saturn. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  Skipper smiled at Peggy before he took his cue and started out of the kitchen. “I know you’re happy that I kept your lady friend company until you got here.”

  “Whatever. Get out while you still can. Don’t ever try to eat my Alfredo again.” Steve barely waited until Skipper was out of the door before he closed it and locked it.

  “Dinner smells great! I really don’t mind if the wine has been breathing too long, either.”

  “I can heat it up,” she volunteered. “The cream separates a little sometimes, but—”

  “There’s something I need a lot more than pasta or wine,” he said, advancing toward her. “I tried calling you back ten times today. Once I think I almost talked to you, but you hung up.”

  “I’m sorry. I tried to call you, but I kept getting your voice mail, and then I had to go into a meeting. I wanted to talk to you.”

  “I wanted to talk to you, too.” He put his arms around her. “Are we okay? Is this preengagement jitters, or are you really that angry at me for asking?”

  “I was angrier at myself than at you. It just took me a while to realize it.” She looked up into his face. “I’m so sorry I didn’t ask you the questions that would’ve given you the opportunity to tell me about yourself.”

  “I’m not sure exactly what that means.” He shrugged. “Basically, I didn’t mean to keep anything from you. I tried to find some way to bring it into a conversation, but there never seemed to be a right time to say it. Maybe it was just lack of trying because everything was so right between us. I’m sorry I didn’t just blurt it out earlier.”

  “So we’re both sorry.” She wiped tears from her eyes. “But I still love you very much, and if that engagement offer still stands, I’d like to give it a try.”

  He kissed her, his brown eyes intent on her face. “You know being engaged means getting married someday.”

  “I’m aware of that.”

  “You’ll have to tell your family.”

  “They already know. And not just about us getting engaged. Apparently I wasn’t fooling anyone by sneaking around. I’m surprised it wasn’t on the news one night.”

  “And they were all good with that? Even your mother?”

  “Even my mother, bless her heart. She told me I could be out of mourning now.”

  “And here you are, still wearing black.” His hand followed her side and made a rustling sound against the dress. “This one I like. Why haven’t I seen it before? Is it new?”

  “Not exactly. I was just holding on to it for the right moment.” She kissed him and smiled. “Would you like me to heat up that pasta now?”

  “Never mind the pasta.” He kissed her hand, then held it as he led her out of the kitchen. “I could use a little warming up instead.”

  “I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING that happened to you from the moment you were born until I ran into your Saturn at the coffee shop.”

  He laughed. “That’s a lot to talk about.”

  “I already know more than I knew before,” she admitted. “I know you were in the Air Force. Skipper told me.”

  “What else did Skipper tell you?”

  “Not enough. Start talking.”

  “There’s really not much to say. My father left when my sister died. My mom raised me. I was lackluster in high school. Never even tried out for science club with the other geeks. I joined the Air Force, came back, and decided to go to college.”

  “And you went to school and became a veterinarian.”

  “And we all lived happily ever after.”

  “No wonder I don’t know much about your past! I thought it was my fault. Now I see it’s because you don’t like talking about it. What about everything that happened in between?
What about girlfriends and your first car? You can’t keep those things secret anymore.”

  He groaned. “Why do I have a feeling that’s all about to change?”

  She kissed him and snuggled close to his chest. “Because you fell in love with the wrong woman. You know I have to understand everything.”

  “And you’re insatiably curious, can’t stand anything being secret, and are just plain nosy.” He kissed her nose to soften his words. “I’ll start at the beginning. I was born a little small but feisty. My mother said my hair was curly until I was three; then it turned straight. My favorite toys were animals, hence the profession.”

  “Maybe not that far back,” she complained. “Let’s talk more about your ex-girlfriends from high school up, and don’t leave anything out.”

  “Maybe we should wait until after we get some sleep. I hate to put on horse liniment unless I’m completely awake. No telling where it could end up.”

  “I suppose that’s fair.” She yawned. “I have an early date at the lake again, looking for more yew branches.”

  “You must have enough of those to make a whole yew tree by now.”

  “You’d think so. But it has to be the right yew tree.”

  “Or the right person.”

  “What?” She sat up in his bed and looked at him. “Of course! That’s the answer. It’s not the yew berries. It’s the person who gave them to her. Lois had to know and trust the person who gave them to her. That’s why Snook isn’t guilty!”

  “Great name. I love the people you meet, Peggy. But what happened to Lois eating the berries by mistake, no one feeding them to her?”

  “Her pocketbook being stashed in the tree negates that idea, because we know she had the carnelian ring in it. I think whoever fed her the berries did so to get the ring, then pushed her into the mud. Lois wouldn’t have been able to walk that far after eating that number of berries.”